Letter: Support reenergized Relay for Life

Posted
Monday, June 20, 2016 9:06 am

The Berkshire Eagle

Support reenergized Relay for Life

To the editor:

Three hundred colorful road signs dot the Berkshire highways. Numerous radio and print media and a month's worth of promotion at the Beacon Theater. Relay For Life of Berkshire County Central South is alive and well and ready to kick off the 21st year of this important Berkshire fund-raiser.

This has become the most promoted Relay For Life in years, certainly since the annual worldwide fund-raiser moved from Burbank Park in Pittsfield to the track at Monument Mountain. Led by a re-energized leadership team made up of volunteers with the desire to build a better event and raise money and awareness for the American Cancer Society. the relay, which has experienced a decline in the past few years, kicks off at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 24 and will continue until 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 25.

There will be celebrations of cancer survivors and honors bestowed on their important caregivers. A special luminary ceremony at 9 p.m. Friday includes stories from survivors and will be immediately followed by a silent remembrance lap and lighted tribute to those who have lost their fight to cancer.

The funds raised are used for cancer research and programs which benefit those needing our help and prayers while facing a most uncertain future. This year's Relay For Life will be a celebration of life with several musical bands, food vendors and events that will surely keep the visitors entertained.

If you have attended the Relay For Life in the past I encourage you to take part this year. Come to remember a family member who has lost their fight. Come for the neighbor who battles on. Come for the celebration of life. Whatever your reason, you need to be part of this year's event.

Cancer strikes all of us. We never know when we, too, will be in need. Please support the Relay For Life of Berkshire County Central South by attending this year's event. I will assure you that this not only will make you feel good but you will be do something truly wonderful for someone else.

Ray Gardino, South Lee The writer is the 2016 co-leader of the Relay For Life of Berkshire County Central South.

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